Brighton council has zeroed in on several critical projects in its $9.5-million 2024 capital budget.Of that $9.5 million, a little more than $2 million is to come through the ratepayer (water and wastewater) and taxpayer, with the remainder to funnel through other sources like reserves, grants and development charges, explained Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander. From work on the sewage treatment plant, the new fire station and paramedics base design, the Prince Edward Street reconstruction project, and more, these are just a few highlights of the capital budget, shared Ostrander. While work is ongoing to finalize Brighton’s 2024 budget, council started hammering at capital projects earlier. “We’ve been struggling with our plant for many years now, and we finally believe we have a solution that will…deal with the ammonia treatment issues at that plant,” said Ostrander. “We’ll start migrating the plant towards a more mechanical-style plant and away from the current naturalized system, which was never designed to treat ammonia.“So the new system will treat the ammonia, and then at some point, we’ll need to go back to our friends at the province and start talking about increasing capacity at that plant.”It is anticipated design work should be completed in spring. The hope is a tender can be issued for “full upgrades” sometime in the fall, said Ostrander.“We will, of course, be looking to our friends at the province to assist with any financial upgrades there because it’s a big project. It’s likely to be in the $30 to $40-million (range) — and it’s just not something a small municipality can manage on its own.” Simply put, work this year is almost entirely engineer- and design-based and estimated to cost around $1 million.Additional budget highlights include work under planning, housing and getting a closer look at what could be in store with a new multi-use recreational facility.Work related to the design of a new fire and ambulance base is an ongoing project, with previous work happening a little more in the background, noted Ostrander. Such work included purchase negotiations with the school board for the property needed, with this property located beside Brighton Public School and near the existing base, explained Ostrander.Design work is to start this year. With paramedics also housed in this location, the goal is to continue partnering with Northumberland County on the project. Additionally, in partnership with Northumberland County, Brighton will get started on the multi-year reconstruction of Prince Edward Street — from the corner of Elizabeth Street down through Harbour Street. Underground work is the focus this year, with above-ground work to follow next year.In 2024, Brighton will also get a closer look at the need for a new multi-use recreational facility, an ask brought to council several times in recent years. The municipality did do a parks and recreation master plan, which also identified it might be timely to consider such a facility, noted Ostrander. Council has approved allocating monies to facilitate a related study, which will incorporate residents’ feedback and a related business plan (i.e. how to fund construction.)From a planning and land-use perspective, Ostrander said the municipality also hopes to complete its secondary plan, which will help in areas where lands are available for housing.However, Ostrander stressed the need for “prescribed builds.” This means ensuring appropriate policies around mixed housing uses and affordable housing and that neighbourhoods are complete with necessary facilities, parks and the like within those residential areas, explained Ostrander. Council deliberations, including operating budget discussions, are ongoing. Heading into a committee budget meeting on Jan. 29, 2024, the proposed tax hike was around 7 per cent. However, Ostrander shared hopes ahead of this meeting that this figure could decrease to a more “reasonable” figure.There will be another meeting before budget approvals. Like other area municipalities, managing inflationary impacts has been challenging.“We’ve seen some very significant inflationary pressures at the municipality…”Under construction costs alone, this is being felt — asphalt, as just one example, has gone up 16-17 per cent, noted Ostrander. Yet, roads continue to need repairs and repairs more often amid climate challenges and more, explained Ostrander.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
